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CHICAGO — Chicago State University has taken a major step toward launching its Division I football program, announcing Tuesday the hiring of Bobby Rome II as its inaugural head coach.
Rome, a former NFL practice squad player and veteran college coach, joins the Cougars from Florida Memorial University, a historically Black institution where he compiled a 15-15-1 record as head coach from 2022 through January.
“We’re going to make noise for the South Side of Chicago,” Rome said during his introduction. “We’re going to push some positive messages out of here.”
The hiring marks a significant milestone for Chicago State as it prepares to field a team in 2026 in the Football Championship Subdivision’s Northeast Conference. University President Zaldwaynaka Scott said the addition of football will “amplify the school’s spirit, deepen our local impact, and extend our reach to a national stage.”
Rome’s arrival comes amid sweeping changes in college athletics. The NCAA now allows student-athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness (NIL), and recent rule changes have made it easier for players to transfer schools. Despite those trends, Rome said he intends to steer clear of NIL negotiations, instead emphasizing the value of the university’s academic and athletic resources.
“We’re going to build from the ground up, with players from all walks of life,” Rome said, adding that he hopes to recruit not only freshmen and transfers, but also current Chicago State students who haven’t had the opportunity to play football.
“My goal is to get people that want to stay here in the city of Chicago,” he said. “We can develop them right here.”
Rome will be responsible for recruiting, fundraising and building the program from scratch. His recruiting strategy will begin locally on the South Side before expanding citywide and nationally. At his introductory press conference, he energized the crowd by encouraging them to stand and chant “lock in,” echoing the message he plans to share with his future team.
Though Rome has no direct ties to Chicago, he successfully turned around Florida Memorial’s program without prior local connections. He transformed the team from winless in conference play in 2022 to a winning record by 2024.
“I’m not taking hand-me-downs,” Rome said. “I’m going to get the best our community has to offer.”
South Side coaches see promise in the new program. Sinque Turner, head coach at Simeon Career Academy, said Chicago State could provide overlooked high school athletes with a chance to extend their careers.
“A program like this can be a stepping stone or even a four-to-five-year opportunity,” Turner said. “My hope is that Coach Rome taps into the talent at Chicago Public Schools.”
Chicago State launched its football program following a $4 million fundraising campaign that also expanded women’s athletics, including the debut of a triathlon team last fall. Athletic Director Monique Carroll said Rome was selected from a pool of roughly 230 applicants.
The university has yet to finalize a venue for home games, though Carroll said Gately Stadium — a 5,000-seat facility near campus — is a top option.
Photo Credit: Chicago State University Athletics